[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 107 (Thursday, June 22, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E879]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        RECOGNIZING BUTCH CORDA

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                           HON. JIMMY PANETTA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 22, 2017

  Mr. PANETTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Butch Corda for 
his work as Chair of the Board of the Grower-Shipper Association of 
Central California. In my home district on the central coast of 
California, agriculture is the engine that drives our local economy, 
and creates opportunity for the citizens who reside there. The Grower-
Shipper Association plays a central role in bringing the region's 
vegetables and berries to tables around the world. Under Mr. Corda's 
leadership as Chair, the Grower-Shipper Association continued to expand 
upon its rich tradition of addressing the complex and evolving issues 
facing the agricultural industry, such as food safety, pest prevention, 
research and education, and much more.
  A native son of the fertile Salinas Valley, Mr. Corda was born and 
raised in Gonzales. After attending Gonzales High School, Hartnell 
College and San Jose State, he returned home and has been working in 
the agricultural industry for over 35 years. Most recently, he has 
served as the General Manager of lppolito International, known for 
being North America's largest supplier of Brussels sprouts, among many 
other mixed and specialty vegetables. He has raised his family in 
Salinas, where his wife and daughter also work in the industry. His 
immense experience, ingenuity and creativity gained from a long and 
distinguished career served him well during his tenure as the chair of 
the Grower-Shipper Association.
  Mr. Speaker, I was particularly impressed by Mr. Corda's 
implementation of the Association's ``Future Leaders Program.'' Through 
this program, the Board of Directors paid special attention to 
developing the next generation of leadership in the industry through 
mentorship, participation in board meetings, and many other educational 
events. This exposed a new generation of agriculture professionals to 
issues facing the industry as a whole, beyond what they manage in the 
day-to-day duties of their respective jobs, and empowered them to bring 
new and creative ideas to the table to solve these pressing concerns. 
Also during Mr. Corda's tenure, the Association premiered the 
documentary film ``Historical Narratives of Salinas Valley 
Agriculture,'' a collaborative project that engaged and educated the 
public on the important and often overlooked stories of the people who 
have built Salinas Valley agriculture into what it is today. Under the 
leadership of Mr. Corda, the Association assisted in providing a place 
for industry leaders to come together to make progress on a number of 
important issues, particularly pesticide safety and water conservation.
  While Mr. Corda's tenure as Chair of the Board has ended, I am 
certain his contribution to this vital industry in my home district 
will continue. It is my pleasure to add my name to the chorus of thanks 
and congratulations to the outgoing Chairman and look forward to 
continued collaboration to champion bold, productive, and creative 
solutions to address the needs of the industry, its workers, and the 
American families who enjoy the harvests that we produce here every 
day.

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